A Flu Pandemic
The WHO have recently warned that a flu
pandemic is inevitable.
Facts and Predictions
- Fatalities in
the UK are predicted as between 60,000- 700,000 in the next pandemic
- Flu spreads
most rapidly in closed communities
- Children
spread flu more easily than adults
- 40% of school
aged children can be expected to fall ill
- Fatalities
could be 2-4% of all children infected
- WHO alert
level at 3 and rising to 4 (Level 6 = pandemic phase)
Predicted Scenario
- Epidemic may
last for 6 – 7 weeks with a possible second wave of infection to follow
- 25 – 40% of
working population may become ill
- Shortage of
labour may lead to breakdown in services
- School may be
required to close
- Deaths may
occur in school community
Current Guidance
- Planning
should be adaptable to respond to different levels of infection
- People should
continue their everyday (essential) activities as normally as possible
- Schools should
plan both for staying open during a pandemic and for closure